Snow Skiing Training Device

ABSTRACT

A Snow Skiing Training Device that utilizes a vibrating stimulus which device is placed in a snow skier&#39;s boot to prompt the skier to maintain the correct forward stance necessary for proper downhill snow skiing. The device is housed in a compact, composite housing that fits on any standard ski boot and can be easily removed when not needed. When an as a snow skier assumes an incorrect position for downhill skiing, the rear of the skier&#39;s leg makes physical contact with a hinge lever to thereby cause a vibration to be felt by the skier, thus advising the skier to change his or her stance forwardly.

BACKGROUND Prior Art

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:

U.S. Patents Patent Number Issue Date Patentee PCT/GB2010/001163 Jul. 12, 2012 Martin Breach US4203235 A May 20, 1980 R. Harrison Van Pelt, Jr.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The act of alpine slalom skiing is one that requires great skill, muscular strength, and coordination. There are many components to alpine skiing that must be executed perfectly to ensure the skier's safety and flawless performance. Many consider the act of placing the majority of one's weight over the top of the ski boots and having the weight be “over the front of the skis” to be simultaneously the hardest yet most important facet of alpine skiing. This position must be maintained throughout the duration of the downhill skiing course so the skier does not fall and is able to execute correct turns and maintain speed. Many beginning and intermediate skiers lean too far back at various difficult portions of a downhill course in an effort to maintain speed and for better control. Contrary to what one might expect, this act of leaning back makes the skier lose control and, in many cases, fall. Because it is a natural instinct to lean back on the skis, it is very hard to teach the proper forward stance for the safety of the skier. It is counter-intuitive to lean forward going down a steep hill. There are many exercises and metaphors that coaches use to try and teach the proper stance, but still many skiers have difficulty maintaining the stance for the duration of the course.

Therefore, a major problem for downhill skiers, whether they are recreational skiers or racers, is to keep their weight over the forward part of their skis. The dynamic balance of a downhill skier as to the fore/aft (forward and backward) movements is a necessary skill to achieve optimal control of the skis while skiing down steep slopes. It is well understood that one of the greatest obstacles to proper skiing is when the skier places weight on their heels, which transfers weight to the back portion of the skis. When the skier's weight is wrongly placed on the back of the skis, then the skier will lose control of the skis, lose speed, and be unable to edge properly or execute the necessary turns to traverse the ski slopes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Unlike the prior art, which focuses on cumbersome accessories and add on plates that forces the skier to have pressure forward on all terrain, or a balancing membrane under the ski boot which has the same problems, my invention is quite different.

My device utilizes micro-vibration motors and a pressure switch that I have discovered that the vibrations travel using the soft inside of the ski boot to conduct the vibrations to the skier when needed. Thus, giving the skier continual feedback for all terrain, groomed, ungroomed, powder, steep, medium, and flat.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive “add-on” to a ski boot that will alert the skier when their weight is too far back.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a vibration stimulus utilizing micro-vibration motors in the device with a hinge-lever activator that transfers the vibration from the device to the ski boot. The vibration of the device travels and is transmitted through the ski boot to the heels, thus alerting the skier to maintain the proper forward stance. I have discovered that vibrations aimed directly to the back of the skier's leg is ineffective because it is muffled by thick socks and ski pants.

Therefore, it is a further object of this invention to incorporate and use existing ski boots to amplify and transfer the vibrations of the device to create a stimulus communicating wrong posture to the skier.

It is a further object of the invention that the configuration of the device is compact and adjustable such that it clips over the back of various makes of boots.

It is a further object that the training device is portable and can be taken on or off easily when needed for the convenience and training of the skier. In addition, because of the easy adjustability, it can be transferred from one skier to another for training on steep slopes.

It is still a further object of this invention to promote safety and prevent a skier from losing control on a steep incline by having their weight too far back. Therefore the device can be placed on the ski boot when going down a steep incline and easily removed for moderate slopes when balance is more evenly distributed.

It is a further object of this invention to use “off the shelf” inexpensive components such as micro vibration motors, hinge lever, and triple A battery source imbedded in a plastic clip on device that is water resistant, durable, and shock proof.

It is still a further object of this invention to use a simple velcro safety strap to ensure that the device doesn't come off the ski boot and get lost in a fall.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in accordance with the teaching herein in a device that attaches to the back of the ski boot. The device is comprising of a thermoplastic case that attaches to the back lip of the top of the boot. When the hinged lever is activated by pressure being placed on the back of the boot, the device vibrates by way of two micro-vibration motors encased in a thin plastic casing. This vibration is transferred to the boot and alerts the skier that there is too much weight on their heels which is an incorrect stance.

The power supply and battery pack are conveniently located on the outside of the boot and electrical wires are attached and imbedded in the device as are the vibrating motors and hinge lever.

The fastening means of the above ski training device is the configuration of an upside down “J” shaped plastic housing wherein the battery pack and bulk of the apparatus is located on the outside part of the boot. The portion of the device that is located inside the boot houses the small vibrating motors and hinge lever. A thin safety strap attaches to the device on the outside of the battery pack and encircles the boot to ensure the device doesn't come off and get lost in the event of a fall.

Because of the unique configuration of the upside-down “J” shaped snow training device and the ease of adjustment to any boot, it can be easily and quickly removed from the ski boot. This allows the device to be used for steep hills and yet can be removed and is small enough to fit in a ski jacket pocket when not needed. Because the components are embedded in the plastic, it is virtually shock-resistant and waterproof. The portion of the device that houses the vibration motors and hinge lever is thin and small enough so as not to cause discomfort to the skier. The device is also easily adjustable and can be fitted to any standard ski boot by means of a screw adjustment.

The two vibrating heads are vertically installed and turn unobstructed and are only activated by the hinge lever. As a result of the no-load position, the heads can turn at a maximum speed of thirteen thousand revolutions per minute causing vibrations to travel through the ski boot. As the vibrations are transmitted through the hard plastic of a ski boot, it is easily detectable by a skier as a stimulus to alert the skier to improper weight back distribution. Conversely, when the correct stance is reached there is no vibration which indicates the weight of the skier is forward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention may be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and by reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the entire device

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the interior portion of the apparatus that encases the vibrating motors, hinge levers, and wires.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the device

FIG. 4 is a fragmented view of the back portion of the device which is located on the exterior of the boot and illustrates the battery pack and safety strap holder.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the snow skiing training device affixed to a standard ski boot

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As indicated above, the object of this invention is to provide an “add-on” to a ski boot that will alert the skier when their weight is wrongly displaced over the back of the skis.

Now referring to FIG. 1, the snow skiing training device includes a housing case 1, which may be made out of plastic or other composite material that fits over the back of the ski boot with the inside portion having a hinge lever 2 that, when activated by applying pressure, the micro vibrating motors 3 and 4 creates a vibrating stimulus alerting the skier. The device is held on primarily by the configuration over the back of the boot, but as an added precaution, a safety strap 5 is incorporated in the design.

Now referring to FIG. 2, the composite housing 1 encases internal compartments for the insulation of two micro vibrating motors 3 and 4 that have attached wires 6 and 7 to the battery pack 8.

Now referring to FIG. 3, more clearly shows the battery pack 8 with a side view of one of the micro vibration motors 4. Adjustability screw device 9 allows the device to fit over virtually any ski boot. The battery pack 8 is encased in the housing 1 for optimal shock and water resistance.

Now referring to FIG. 4, which illustrates the interior portion of the back of the device as it would be shown on the exterior of a ski boot with battery pack 8, which is encased in composite housing 1 and safety strap 5.

Now referring to FIG. 5, which illustrates a typical ski boot 10 with the composite housing in place 1, the hinge lever 2, and the safety strap 5 that hold the device in place in case of a fall.

The above described embodiments of the invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. The scope of this invention instead shall be determined from the scope of the following claims, including their equivalents. 

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A Ski Training device that alerts skiers to assume the correct forward stance and posture during down hill skiing, which device comprises: (A) a housing configured to fit over the upper edge of the rear of a ski boot. (B) at least one vibrating micro motors disposed in said housing. (C) a hinge lever on said housing, which lever can be actuated by movement of the skier's foot when the skier's foot moves rearwardly in the boot and contacts said lever, by the pressure of the impact. (D) a battery power source for said micro vibrating motors, electrically connected thereto and to said lever, whereby when said lever is actuated, a circuit is closed and the micro vibrating motors are energized, causing a vibration feeling to be detected by the skier so long as the skier's rear portion of his/her boot is in contact with the lever.
 14. The device of claim 13 where there are 2 batteries
 15. The device of claim 14 where there are two micro vibrating motors
 16. The device of claim 13 wherein the vibrations are transferred throughout the interior portion of the ski boot, which vibrations can be detected by the skier as a stimulus to alert the skier of improper body weight distributions on the skis.
 17. The device of claim 13 further including an adjustment screw to help fit the device to the thickness of any boot.
 18. The device of claim 13 further including a safety strap that attaches to the device and encircles a boot to help secure the device to a ski boot.
 19. A ski training device to advise a skier to assume correct forward stance during downhill skiing, and which device attaches to the ski boot of the skier, said device comprising: (A) a housing configured to fit partially within a ski boot, and partially exteriorly to a ski boot. (B) at least on vibrating micro motor disposed in said housing. (C) a battery powered power supply for said micro vibrating motors, disposed in said housing and electrically connected to said motors. (D) a lever movable by the foot pressure of a skier in a wrong stance moving rearwardly, in a ski boot, which lever is connected to at least one battery, and said at least one battery is electrically connected to said at least one micro vibrating motor, whereby when a skier's foot moves rearwardly when a wrong stance non forwardly is assumed the rear of the foot impacts the lever causing the at least one micro vibrating motors to send a vibration felt by the skier through a boot, due to being energized by the at least one battery said device further including an adjusted screw to ensure fit of the device on any ski boot.
 20. The device of claim 19 still further including a strap disposed through said device for encircling the boot prior to skier putting a foot in the boot.
 21. The device of claim 13 wherein the device is configured as an upside down J shape.
 22. The device of claim 19, wherein there are two micro vibrating motors.
 23. The device of claim 19, wherein the housing is made of plastic.
 24. The device of claim 19, wherein the micro vibrating motor(s) and lever activator are disposed inside the ski boot when the device is ski boot attached, and the battery(s) are disposed on the outside of the boot, all within the housing.
 25. The device of claim 13 wherein when the skier is in the correct position for skiing, the rear of the foot does not impact the lever and thus no vibrations are emitted by the micro vibrating motor(s) which lack of signal advises the skier he/she is in the correct downhill skiing posture.
 26. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is readily removable and sized for storage in a garment pocket. 